Creating a Unit Plan Creating a Unit Plan Chastity Jones Laura Wilde 07/07/2014 EDU673: Instruct. Strat. for Differentiated Teach & Learn Introduction Classroom unit plans are documents used by teachers to map long-term plan throughout the school term or a year. Teachers should have a long-term unit plan that sets their goals and objectives throughout the term in a bid to enhance student performance. Teachers should be able to understand their students as different students come from different backgrounds and environment; exhibiting different personalities, traits, and intellectual capabilities. Students behave differently whenever they are in school and at home and this defines their ultimate achievement. Some students come from very poor background while others come from rich families and this could contribute to the variations in academic performances; which is the ultimate goal behind learning institutions. Lack of enough learning materials such as stationeries and classrooms could reduce leaning efficiency. Some of the students are drug addicts and lack proper parental guidelines leading them to mischievous behaviors’ thus creating an environment not conducive for studying. A well designed unit plan will enable teachers to plan their work well and this l also favors the weak students who cannot perform very well in class. First Step: Identification of the objective The first thing that a teacher should do is to identify the content, unit title and the unit subject. The teacher should identify the area of study and the specific topics to be studied over that specific period. A mathematics teacher for example may decide on the topics to study such as algebra, subtraction, multiplication and division. However, teachers should be able to understand their learning objectives in creating a big goal and a long-term plan. The teacher should also be able to create two measurable unit objectives that will enable students to think critically as like align with the CCSS. A Physics teacher for example should make students to think critically in their practical work. Teachers should be able to create a description of what they want their students to master and understand. Taking students out in the field will really make them understand what they are studying. An Environmental teacher for example should take students out for field studies to make them think critically through exposure. Second step: Evidence of learning, pre-assessments, formative assessments and summative assessments. · Pre-assessment: In this step, teacher should be able to detect the preparedness of the students. They should test the thinking of the students if indeed their thoughts are in the content of the subject that is about to be studied. In this case, teachers should be able to understand the interest and capability of the students before the learning process begin. Besides that, teachers should be to identify the learning materials. · Formative assessme.

1. Creating a Unit Plan
Creating a Unit Plan
Chastity Jones
Laura Wilde
07/07/2014
EDU673: Instruct. Strat. for Differentiated Teach & Learn
Introduction
Classroom unit plans are documents used by teachers to map
long-term plan throughout the school term or a year. Teachers
should have a long-term unit plan that sets their goals and
objectives throughout the term in a bid to enhance student
performance. Teachers should be able to understand their
students as different students come from different backgrounds
and environment; exhibiting different personalities, traits, and
intellectual capabilities. Students behave differently whenever
they are in school and at home and this defines their ultimate
achievement.
Some students come from very poor background while others
come from rich families and this could contribute to the
variations in academic performances; which is the ultimate goal

2. behind learning institutions. Lack of enough learning materials
such as stationeries and classrooms could reduce leaning
efficiency. Some of the students are drug addicts and lack
proper parental guidelines leading them to mischievous
behaviors’ thus creating an environment not conducive for
studying. A well designed unit plan will enable teachers to plan
their work well and this l also favors the weak students who
cannot perform very well in class.
First Step: Identification of the objective
The first thing that a teacher should do is to identify the
content, unit title and the unit subject. The teacher should
identify the area of study and the specific topics to be studied
over that specific period. A mathematics teacher for example
may decide on the topics to study such as algebra, subtraction,
multiplication and division. However, teachers should be able to
understand their learning objectives in creating a big goal and a
long-term plan. The teacher should also be able to create two
measurable unit objectives that will enable students to think
critically as like align with the CCSS. A Physics teacher for
example should make students to think critically in their
practical work.
Teachers should be able to create a description of what
they want their students to master and understand. Taking
students out in the field will really make them understand what
they are studying. An Environmental teacher for example should
take students out for field studies to make them think critically
through exposure.
Second step: Evidence of learning, pre-assessments, formative
assessments and summative assessments.
· Pre-assessment: In this step, teacher should be able to detect
the preparedness of the students. They should test the thinking
of the students if indeed their thoughts are in the content of the
subject that is about to be studied. In this case, teachers should
be able to understand the interest and capability of the students

3. before the learning process begin. Besides that, teachers should
be to identify the learning materials.
· Formative assessment: Universal Design for Learning is
needed in formative assessment. UDL is a framework that
determines how students study in a unique style. UDL
framework helps teachers to understand how students are
performing. It has three principles that guide it. The three
principles are; enabling options during presentation, expression
and participation of the students.
· Summative assessment: Students should be given assessment
to test their understanding. Summative assessment helps
students to present, express their understanding and participate
with their teacher in the learning process. Presentation enables
students to provide choices for discernment and comprehension.
Expression enables students to express what they feel physically
through training verbally. Participation of students makes
students to gain interest and hard work during the course.
Third step: Developing activities and experiences
These stages involve molding learning styles to identify
capabilities and curiosity of the students. Teachers should be
able to organize their lessons in correct way that shows the
relevance of the study and ensuring that learners are able to
practice what they have learned. Good teachers organize their
unit plan well for towards to attaining their set objectives.
There should be an expected result and a summative unit
assessment. This enables teachers to focus their goals into
objectives and table their objectives on the school calendar for
easy work that runs to the long-term.
Conclusion
In conclusion, unit plans are very important for teachers and it
makes their work in school easier and this leads to good
performers. Unit plans ensures that teachers are aware of their
daily plans and they report to school having known what to do.

4. However, environmental issues should be considered for the
good performance of the students. Classrooms full of students
with no enough teachers will definitely perform poorly.
Furniture should be available to enable students sit comfortably
and stationeries such as books, pens and chalks should be made
available for students. Unit plans are very important in any
learning institution for it makes learning and the entire teaching
practice effective and efficient.
References:
Puckett, K (2013). Differentiating Instruction: A Practical
Guide. Bridgepoint Education: San Diego, CA.
Willis, J. (2007). Research-based strategies to ignite student
learning: Insights from a neurologist and classroom teacher.
Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development.
Wolfe, P. (2001). Brain matters: Translating research into
classroom practice. Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development
Chapman, C. And King, R. (2005) Differentiated assessment
strategies: One tool doesn’t fit all. Thousand Oaks: Corwin
Press.
Eat Smart for a Great Start Newsletter. (2003, January 3). PBS.
Retrieved July 27, 2014, from http://www.pbs.org/parents/child-
development/sensory-play/developing-and-cultivating-skills-
through-sensory-play/
Assessment for Learning (Formative Assessment). (2014,
January 15). Features. Retrieved July 27, 2014, from
https://www.educateiowa.gov/pk-12/student-
assessment/assessment-learning-formative-assessment
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5. Setting the Stage for Success
Setting the Stage for Success
Chastity Jones
Laura Wilde
07/07/2014
EDU673: Instruct. Strat. for Differentiated Teach & Learn
Success for the students in school does not only result from the
instructions given by the teachers, but also by the way the
school environment is set. The environment in which the
students carry put their studies is crucial for their success. A
well designed school environment makes the students secure
and comfortable and ready to learn. Accepting environment
makes the students motivated and ready to study. The results
that the school records from this environment are higher than
what it could have been if the environment was not designed
well. The designers of a school therefore should design a school
in such a way that the environment for the students will be
conducive for leaning and should meet the needs of all the
students. The subject area is the elementary level where the
students are active learners who need good instructions to be

6. given to help them develop good behavior and succeed in their
learning environment. The students on subject; include all the
students of different genders, abilities and students with various
needs.
In designing a classroom environment, the building should be
located in a place where there is minimal or no disturbance at
all. The quiet and without any distraction that may distract the
students attention. For example, the building should be away
from the road where there are cars passing or away from the
industries where there is a lot of noise being produced.
According to Wolfe, P. (2001), attention is the first tool that we
use to learn since through our attention, we are able to get what
is said or what we are learning. The students are supposed to
focus at one thing at a time to allow coding of correct
information. Disturbance therefore should be minimal for
learning to be successful. The environment should also be
flexible and allow for students collaboration in school. This will
enable the students to carry out their discussion and help one
another. Also, it should be located in a place where all the
students including the physically challenged are able to access
easily.
The arrangement of a classroom should be made in a way that
furniture be arranged in such a way that the students seat facing
the chalk or the white board where the teacher writes on. This
will ensure that the students get the right information being
taught by the teacher. The furniture in a class should be made in
a way that all the students including those who have the
physical needs are able to use them. This will not limit some
students on the basis of biological difference.
All the classrooms should be spacious to avoid congestion.
Enough space in the classroom will make the students
comfortable in their learning. Spacious classrooms will allow
free circulation of fresh air in the classroom. The number of
students is supposed to be proportional to the space available
for them. They are not supposed to be congested in the class
because congestion will create discomfort among the students,

7. therefore making them unable to learn properly. The number of
students should also be small for easy management and delivery
of information by the teacher or the instructor. For example,
there should be 20 to 30 students per class for easy management
and instruction giving by the teacher.
The class should also be well lit to make it easy for the students
to read the texts or any other written material. A well-lit class
reduces the stress that is associated with the students straining
to read their learning materials. Reduced stress in learning will
make the students enjoy their learning and therefore excel in
their learning.
Class composition also influences how the students perform.
Students should be put together including those of different sex
or those within different abilities and needs. In doing so, the
students will feel not discriminated on some ground and
therefore become ready to learn. There is also support and
cooperation among the students. This will help the students help
one another in areas where they have some weaknesses. Willis,
J. (2007) in his research found that classrooms with highly
cooperative groups of students have students with positive
views of fairness in grading, stronger class cohesion, and strong
social support. Female students for example have been found to
prefer working with others students when studying and when
solving their classroom problems. According to Willis, J. (2007)
some girls do better in math and science particularly when
separated from male students but other perform with no
difference when in a mixed-sex classroom.
There are also strategies that have been found to promote
positive behaviors among the students in school. Training
teachers to integrate values instruction into the class
management is a strategy that can help in creating positive
behaviors in class. According to Chapman, C and King, R.
(2005), teachers should allow the students to take part in any
decision making that the students issues may be touched. In
doing so, the students will develop an understanding of their
responsibilities in life together with the skills. Another strategy

8. is to promote a caring community in the school. In some
occasions, the teachers should mix the older and the young
students in one classroom so that the older students help the
younger students by teaching them what to do when in school.
In doing so, the students will develop the positive behaviors.
Encourage teachers to use positive discipline practices.
Teachers should avoid threatening or punishing the students
when they do a mistake. Instead they should look for positive
ways of helping them correct their mistakes. The teachers
should use consistent positive disciplinary practices for example
clear expectations, discussions, and modeling. In doing so, the
students will adopt the positive behavior that is desirable by
everybody. The school should have clear rules and regulations
that regulate the students’ behaviors. They should also have
clear designed routine programs on how things should be done.
References:
Puckett, K (2013). Differentiating Instruction: A Practical
Guide. Bridgepoint Education: San Diego, CA.
Willis, J. (2007). Research-based strategies to ignite student
learning: Insights from a neurologist and classroom teacher.
Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development.
Wolfe, P. (2001). Brain matters: Translating research into
classroom practice. Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development
Chapman, C. And King, R. (2005) Differentiated assessment
strategies: One tool doesn’t fit all. Thousand Oaks: Corwin
Press.
2
Differentiated assessment and teaching strategies

9. Differentiated assessment and teaching strategies
Chastity Jones
Laura Wilde
07/14/2014
EDU673: Instruct. Strat. for Differentiated Teach & Learn
Differentiated assessment is a progressing process of evaluation
where tutors gather information and data before, during and
after tutoring which is aimed to better facilitate learning. The
process ensures success for all students in the differentiated
classes with data provided from a variety of sources assisting in
giving an indication of overall students' achievement. In this
process, students are provided with various tasks that are
replicas of real life scenarios enabling students to acquire living
skills and also enabling the instructor to assess whether students
have acquired the skills. Differentiated assessment assists tutors
to come up with effective teaching strategies. These various

10. effective strategies to improve differential assessment and
teaching they include:
1) Differentiate Through Teams
Homogeneous grouping can be an effective way to differentiate
in assessment. During novel or a literature projects, it is advised
to separate students into different reading levels. In this way,
groups that need extra instruction can receive it without feeling
that they are pulling the others behind. Suitable times have to
be designated for breaking up the class for differentiated
instruction.
2) Reflection and Goal Setting
Reflection is an essential component of differentiated
assessment. Throughout the project, students should be
reflecting on their work and setting goals for further learning.
Students can then use this opportunity to receive training for the
specific goals that they have set and for you to target
instruction specific to the goals they set.
3) Mini-Lessons
This is an effective strategy which mainly aims at reducing
boredom in classes. It has been noted that when lessons tend to
be too long, it becomes hard for students to maintain high levels
of concentration and at times they tend to drift away. So as to
cab this, it is important for educators to use mini lessons; this
helps students to stay alert all through the lessons.
4) Diagnostic Testing
Diagnostic testing or formative assessments may or may not
look the same for all students. Students show what they have
learned in different ways. Formative assessments should be
carried out in different ways as the levels of understanding are
also checked. Formative tests can be differentiated through
various ways such as oral delivery, written responses and use of
graphics or collages.
5) Balance Teamwork and Individual Work
“Teamwork and collaboration occurs regularly in a project. As

11. much as collaboration is needed in the delivery of content,
individual instruction may be required by a student. A balance
is required between both learning techniques, so as to provide a
21st century collaborative environment while at the same time
meeting students’ needs individually.” Be sure to assert
collaborative work but take a break from teamwork from time to
time to allow students to work individually. A student’s
learning environment needs to be differentiated as some
students learn faster alone while others learn faster as a group.
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is an educational
initiative in America that focuses on what K-12 students should
know in English language arts and mathematics at the end of
each grade starting from the first grade up to the twelfth grade.
The initiative, which is sponsored by the National Governors
Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School
Officers (CCSSO), aims at establishing consistent educational
standards across the states as well as ensure that students
graduating from high school are prepared to enter credit-bearing
courses at two- or four-year college programs or enter the
workforce. CCSS is aimed at imparting significant life skills to
students in American high schools. These skills are essential,
not just in college but also in real life working experience.
The Common Core State Standards will undoubtedly have great
impact especially in teachers. Teachers will be forced to come
up with a whole new way of approaching lessons in order for
their students to be successful in CCSS. Teachers will have to
plan high-leveled thinking lessons since CCSS is a rigorous
process and a lot of pressure will be placed on teachers whose
students will be performing poorly. Schools will need to hire
specialists to help improve performance of poor performing
students. The impact on students is expected to be immense
since they are the ones who will benefit most from CCSS. They
will be better prepared for college and thus students graduating
from high school will have essential skills to face college which
in turn will lead to better performance in colleges. Also parents
will be involved more than ever in their children's education to

12. help them overcome challenges which may be posed by CCSS.
They will have to ensure that assignment given are completed in
due time. Also states will be able to compare performances of
their students.
Mathematics standards of the CCSS are tailored to address the
problems of the current curriculum which is not as effective as
the CCSS. The standards are very more clear and specific. They
will focus more on stressing concepts in a more organized way.
The standards will be a bit high since they are aimed at
preparing students for college math skills. Also the English
literature arts standards require that students read a lot of
literature and more complex texts that provide facts. Students
will be tested on their comprehension of the texts and may be
required to refer back to the texts.
CCSS is intended to be a rigorous process and more involving.
Differentiated assessment will come in handy to help not only
educators to assess the students' comprehension but also, the
students themselves since it will be more learner friendly.
In mathematics, educators will put into use mini lessons so as to
ensure the students do not get bored during the lessons, also
differentiated formative assessment so as students can show
what they have learnt in different ways which are convenient to
them. Through creation of teams, students can be able to
comprehend complicated mathematical formulas by the help of
their classmates, but since some students learn more when alone
it would be better to differentiate between teamwork and
individual work. These techniques will also apply for English
literature arts.

13. Reference:
Puckett, K (2013). Differentiating Instruction: A Practical
Guide. Bridgepoint Education: San Diego, CA.
4